Chapter 431: Each Gains Their Reward

After speaking, the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal added, “But before we leave, could you wait for me a moment? I have some matters to attend to.”

The First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou, upon seeing the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal draw the broken sword, immediately understood his intent.

The Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal had received the sword’s recognition; the sword belonged to its master, meaning the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal had inherited the master’s legacy—between them, the former was, in essence, the latter’s half-disciple.

It is natural for a disciple to pay respects to his master and tidy up his grave.

“Master of the Sword, I, Tianxie, have received your blade. I humbly bow before you in gratitude, and vow to strive diligently on the Sword Dao, never bringing shame to the name of ‘Sword.’”

The Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal placed the broken sword before the tombstone and carefully tidied the grave with his own hands.

He filled the exploded mound with handfuls of soil, pulled out the surrounding weeds, just as a mourner would clean the grave of an elder.

After finishing, he took out a wine cup, drank one himself, then poured another onto the grave.

Just as he knelt before the tombstone.

The dried blood on the broken sword dissolved, mingling with the glowing inscriptions on the tombstone to form indescribable divine symbols—one after another, swirling around the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal like dragons and phoenixes circling.

The Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal froze in place.

“Senior Sword Immortal!”

Gao Xianghong startled and moved forward, but the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou raised a hand to stop him.

“No need to go near. The Sword Immortal is unharmed.”

The First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou pointed at the Sword Immortal and said, “Look at his face—no trace of fear or tension. He is serene. This is no danger—it is a great blessing.”

In his voice, the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou made no effort to hide his envy, filled with deep emotion.

Hearing this, Gao Xianghong suddenly understood—the Sword Immortal Senior hadn’t merely received the master’s sword; kneeling before the grave, he had earned the master’s recognition and received the master’s legacy—a blessing so great even gods and immortals would envy him until their eyes turned purple.

“It seems we cannot return yet. The Sword Immortal’s acceptance of the legacy will likely take some time.”

The First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou watched the Sword Immortal, then withdrew his envious gaze and took out some immortal fruits from his storage ring.

We’ve been here long enough—it’s time to eat.

In truth, the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou and the others no longer needed to eat; at this level, they had transcended the need for food. But Gao Xianghong still had to eat—he had not yet reached the seventh realm of life.

Moreover, not eating doesn’t mean not wanting to eat. Eating is one of humanity’s great pleasures. Even members like the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou, the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal, and Kamikawa Mitsu, though they had become immortals and demons, still cherished meals.

Gao Xianghong took the immortal fruit, glanced at the endless graves scattered around, the pitch-black sky above like night, and let out a wry smile.

“Eating at a grave at night—first time ever.”

Unconsciously, he thought of the group’s notorious troublemaker, Miti Dasheng Jun.

While waiting for the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal’s legacy, Gao Xianghong teased, “Senior Immortal Sovereign, what do you think Miti Dasheng Jun would do if he were here? Would he be tempted to cause chaos?”

The First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou sat cross-legged on the ground, bit into a juicy, delicious immortal fruit, and laughed:

“If Miti Dasheng Jun came here, he’d definitely cause trouble—probably dig up graves. Even if he didn’t dig, I bet he’d leave a ‘So-and-so was here’ carving somewhere.”

“Maybe even dance on the graves,” Gao Xianghong chuckled.

“Xianghong, inside Hangu Pass there should be little danger—you can wander around, but don’t go far. If you get into trouble, I won’t be able to find you.”

The First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou suggested Gao Xianghong explore.

This place was filled with graves of gods and immortals who fought in the earliest battlefields. Who knows? A casual stroll might grant you a blessing like the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal’s. And you have an advantage—you’re of the Primordial Realm bloodline, a true prodigy of the Primordial Realm. Your chances of receiving a legacy are high.

“You go, Senior. I’ll stay here and guard the Sword Immortal.”

Gao Xianghong didn’t want to benefit alone, and suggested:

“How about this—we take turns guarding the Sword Immortal, each of us going out to explore and see if we can get lucky like him.”

……

Time passed slowly.

The First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou and Gao Xianghong waited for the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal to receive his legacy—for two full days and nights.

Over those two days, the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal’s aura, energy, and bearing underwent a transformation as profound as a cocoon becoming a butterfly—even his appearance changed.

His once snow-white hair turned black, his face youthful, brimming with vitality.

Had Gao Xianghong and the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou not taken turns guarding him and witnessed his transformation firsthand, Gao Xianghong might have thought the old man had vanished, replaced by a young man.

Yet, from the contours of his face, it was unmistakably the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal—his radiance renewed, vitality replenished, hence his youthfulness.

If this trend continued, even if his cultivation stagnated, he could easily live another ten to twenty thousand years.

The Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal’s transformation was seen by the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou and Gao Xianghong, who rejoiced—he had received the master’s legacy, advanced far along the Sword Dao, and now stood on the brink of immortality.

Notably,

During these two days of guarding the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal, both the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou and Gao Xianghong gained their own rewards.

Gao Xianghong received a legacy from a god-immortal at a grave—his bloodline was further awakened, his strength surged forward, and overnight he leapt from Life Realm Three to Life Realm Seven.

Had he not chosen to stabilize his realm instead of chasing too much too soon, he could have broken through all the way to Divine Step.

He felt no regret. Achieving Life Realm Seven was more than enough—it was solid, without any emptiness, his foundation as firm as a boulder, and the legacy’s power still lingered within him.

With time to slowly absorb it, he would soon break through to Divine Step without issue.

In fact, Gao Xianghong’s gains, compared to those of the First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou and the Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal, were the most visibly striking.

The First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou also gained a reward—a broken immortal weapon.

This treasure greatly aided him. After blood-binding it, his lifespan was extended, and he gained insights into divine arts and the thoughts of an immortal. If he could repair the immortal weapon, he would gain the immortal Dao itself—his path to immortality now lay within reach.

A great harvest.

All three returned laden with bounty.

……

On the third day,

The Heavenly Evil Sword Immortal awoke. No longer an old man with tied hair, he was now a young man with hair bound, his bearing sharp as a blade, spirit bright, yet tinged with a faint, elusive loneliness—then, upon closer look, the loneliness vanished, replaced by a world of boundless inclusiveness.

With a light sweep of the broken sword, chaotic energy surged—as if earth, wind, water, and fire were gestating here, as if a world were about to be born.

“One sword, one world?” The First Immortal Sovereign of Jiuzhou exclaimed, smiling. “Congratulations, Sword Immortal. Your advancement is astonishing. Clearly, immortality is now yours.”

Gao Xianghong’s eyes sparkled with awe.

The Sword Immortal Senior might one day become like Yato no Koto, capable of creating worlds at will—a creator god.

Soon after, they left Hangu Pass, notified the group master, and used the group master’s teleportation array to return to their respective worlds.

……